Melvin Mitchell had a good start out of the harbour in the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race on Vancouver Island, but mechanical problems cut the qathet region entrant’s race short.
Mitchell said after races at Brannon Lake and Departure Bay on Vancouver Island, to start the season, he participated in the world championship in Nanaimo on July 23.
According to a written account from Mitchell, the day featured perfect conditions for tubbing.
“I got a good start out of the harbour, being one of the first four or five bathtubs around Gallows Point,” stated Mitchell. “In the chaos that is the start of the race, with 36 tubs and escorts all going the same direction, I did my best to get out of the mess and shoot for clear water to adjust sights to head to Entrance Island.
“As I started getting into the Salish Sea, my motor was starting to act up, due to air getting in the fuel line.”
The first two races of the season were pretty bumpy, according to Mitchell, so Murphy's law decided to ride with him in Nanaimo.
“I tried to keep going by continually pumping the fuel ball, hoping an escort could catch up,” stated Mitchell. “As the motor slowed, I knew it was going to stop in the middle of nowhere. So, I had to do a balancing act.
“As fate, or karma also rode with me, a spectator boat came to offer assistance. They came close and asked if I was okay. I told them physically I was fine, but my tub wasn't.”
Mitchell asked the people in the spectator boat to tie a rope to the racing tub in case it flipped so he wouldn't lose it.
“With the waves coming from the rest of the pack, it was very challenging to keep up with the balancing act,” stated Mitchell. “The skipper of the vessel said he would tow me until I could see my escort.”
This was about a 12- to 15-minute tow before the escort boat came and took over.
“Happiness is an empty tub,” stated Mitchell. “When the other racers asked how we did when we got in, our answer was: we didn't sink.”
The race was fast and a new world record of one hour, 45 seconds was set by Nanaimo racer Brandon Skipper.
Mitchell added that the next race is in local waters, August 19, at Gibsons Beach, with race time at 1 pm.
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